Are you worried about a tendon injury? You’re not alone. Tendonitis is an inflammation of a tendon that happens when you use an injured tendon often during physical activity. It is quite common in athletes, especially runners. However, it is treatable with a wide range of treatment options. Learn about the effective treatment options for tendonitis in this article to get the right treatment to cure your tendon. Log on to www.doralhw.org for a consultation.

Treatment options for Tendonitis

Tendonitis treatment focuses on relieving pain and reducing inflammation. For that, the first line of treatment is the “RICE” protocol, which stands for:

1. Rest: Resting the affected tendon allows to reduce inflammation. If a sport or specific repetitive motion causes tendinitis, the person should avoid the activity until the injury heals completely. A bandage, splint, or brace may help in reducing movement and reduce the pressure while walking.
2. Ice: Ice the wound immediately to decrease the swelling. You should apply ice packs for 10 to 15 minutes twice or thrice a day to reduce inflammation and pain. A person can also wrap ice in a towel to avoid direct contact with the skin. Some people also find heat is a good alternative to reduce inflammation or pain. They use hot towels or warm compresses or take a warm bath.
3. Compression: You need to wrap your affected area with an elastic bandage for 72 hours (about 3 days) to reduce swelling, blood flow, and provide support. Make sure the bandage is not too tight.
4. Elevation: You need to keep your injured area above the heart level when you’re sitting or lying for rest to reduce swelling.

Besides this protocol, OTC pain medication and other nonsurgical care options are also used to ensure tendonitis gets treated quicker and recovers with full strength and flexibility. In rare cases, surgical options are needed.

Medications

Medications are used to reduce the pain and swelling that tendonitis causes, your provider may recommend over the counter (OTC) medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen. Besides these medications, doctors may prescribe topical anti-inflammatory creams and gels that minimize pain.

Injections

Your doctor may recommend corticosteroid (cortisone) injections in case your tendon inflammation and pain are severe and don’t improve with medications and home treatment. The injection is usually given into the sheath surrounding the tendon, not directly on it. This injection is only administered by the doctor.

Besides cortisone injections, doctors may prescribe stem cell injections to boost your natural healing process, reduce inflammation, and alleviate pain. These injections are a type of effective regenerative medicine that triggers your body’s production of new tendon cells and tissues.

Physiotherapy

Physical therapy or physiotherapy are designed exercises that physical therapists teach you to improve the soft tissue mobility of the muscle (where the tendon originates from) and restore movement, function, and strength over time in some specific cases. It includes a range of motion exercises, strength training, flexibility work, balance training, etc. Tendonitis-type injuries usually load the tendon gradually, which is why improving the condition is essential to restore function. Your therapist will create a program to increase your tendonitis recovery chances. This therapy may also help screen other joints for mobility deficits that may increase the risk of development of tendonitis.

Besides physiotherapy, some stretching exercises are also included in individual programs to ensure the muscles and tendons around the injured area stay loose and prevent further irritation or inflammation. Ensure you don’t overdo it because too much stretching can worsen things. So only hold each stretch for 20 to 30 seconds before slowly releasing it. Repeat 2 to 3 times per day as required and tolerated by your body.

Other non-surgical options

Besides RICE and medications, some other nonsurgical options are used to reduce pain and swelling and support the affected area. It includes:

• Foam rolling:

This is a great way to relieve your foot tendonitis because it massages the muscles and tendons in your feet which lowers your pain and inflammation. You can do this by placing a foam roller under your feet and slowly rolling it back and forth. You can also try other exercises on the foam roller that stretch and strengthen the muscles in your feet.

• Massage therapy:

This therapy is very beneficial for treating foot tendonitis because it massages the affected area to reduce inflammation and pain. It also improves your blood circulation and flexibility in the foot, which aids in recovery.

• Casting:

The doctor may prescribe orthopedic casting to immobilize the affected area and allow it to heal undisturbed. Generally, it is only recommended for severe cases of tendonitis, where rest and icing are not enough to relieve symptoms. It also prevents re-injury by ensuring the foot does not move much.

• Bracing and orthotics:

Custom orthotics and bracing are recommended when tendonitis in the foot provides support and cushioning to reduce pain and boost the healing process. These are designed to fit your feet specifically, so they provide more comfort and effectiveness than over-the-counter options. Additionally, it also prevents future injuries by limiting your movement and supporting the weak and unstable areas of the foot. Generally, bracing and orthotics are often used with other treatment options.

Surgical options

In the most severe cases where all nonsurgical treatments fail to improve the condition, surgery is used to realign tendons, remove bone spurs that may cause pressure on tendons, and remove areas of calcium buildup. For that, the doctor may use extracorporeal pulse activation technology (EPAT) or extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) to break the calcium buildup and trigger the body’s healing response, increase blood flow, and anti-inflammation factors help new tendon tissue grow. EPAT uses sound pressure waves, which pass through the skin to reach the injured tendon with a device. Whereas ESWT uses shock waves to break up the calcium deposits to treat tendinitis and improve symptoms.

Many effective treatment options for tendonitis help it recover fully and quickly. These options include medications, home treatment options, injections, support equipment, physical therapies, and lastly surgery for severe cases.

If you need help with your tendonitis, visit our podiatry clinic in Brooklyn to get professional medical treatment. Doral Health & Wellness employs Podiatrists with extensive education and expertise. Trauma to the tendons, muscles, and bones of the foot is quite common, as are infections secondary to systemic diseases. It’s not a promising idea to put off seeing Foot Doctor Brooklyn until you’re in a lot of pain. Our address is 1797 Pitkin Avenue, New York, NY 11212. To make an appointment, please call +1-347-384-5690 or send an email to info@doralhw.org.